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This morning, DFAT has confirmed that a group of Australian trekkers and porters have been attacked and injured on the Black Cat Track in Papua New Guinea. First and foremost, Kokoda Trekking would like to express our deepest sympathies to all victims and their families.
Secondly, we would like to reassure all Kokoda Trekking clients and their families that all trekkers who are currently on the Kokoda Trail with us are safe and well and in no danger. Understandably, we have had many calls this morning from concerned loved ones checking on the safety of their friends and relatives on the Trail. We are in contact with them and want you to know that all is well.
To provide a little perspective, the Black Cat Track is quite a long way from the Kokoda Trail, a similar distance to that between Brisbane and Sydney. Additionally, given that the Black Cat Track is in an extremely remote location, it is only walked by less than 100 trekkers per year. By comparison, the Kokoda Trail is in another league, frequented by several thousand trekkers annually.
We would also like to say that Kokoda Trekking enjoys a mutually respectful relationship with the PNG locals and in many ways, we have each other’s backs. We always do everything in our power to do the right thing – and have our trekkers do the right thing – by the locals and in turn, they take very good care of us.
Having been in the business for more than ten years, we can confidently say that our trekkers are in capable, expert hands. Any travel experience, whether a five star hotel holiday or a deep sea fishing excursion comes with its own set of risks. At Kokoda Trekking we are proud of our safety record and we intend to maintain it long into the future.
We are saddened about today’s events on the Black Cat Trail and send our condolences to all involved. To our Kokoda Trekking extended family, we ask that you keep the victims in your thoughts.
In fact, we ran one of the first 'Black Cat' treks in honour of my uncle who fought there who sadly passed away from a sniper's bullet in Aitape towards the end of the war. Its a track with a lot of war history and its just so sad to hear the news today. Now the 'Black Cat' trail is receiving a lot of media exposure for all the wrong reasons when in fact what happened there during the war deserves recognition in itself.
If you have any questions regarding the Black Cat Trail incident, please call the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade for latest updates. Their number is 1300 555 135 (if calling from outside Australia, the number is +61 2 6261 3305).
map_of_papua-new-guinea.jpgIf you would like to read more about the Black Cat Track, links below. On the 16th September when PNG celebrate its Independence Day, it will mark the 70th Anniversary of the taking of Lae by our brave aussie diggers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanga_Force
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2/7th_Independent_Company_%28Australia%29
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